Exercising hobbyhorse



Aug. 11, 1936. I I w. D. OSBORN I 2,050,500.

EXERC I S ING HOBBYHORSE Filed Jan. 15, 1934 7%.}. Gaga/QM UNITED STATES Patented Aug. 11, 1936 rites PATENT 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a combined exercising device and plaything particularly designed for childrens use and the principal object of my inventicnis, to provide a toy or exercising aevice in the nature of a hobby horse that may be conveniently and safely used by children and which device when used affords pleasing amusement as well as a means for exercising practically all muscles of the body, arms and legs.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide an exercising plaything of the character referred. to that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and which may be readily adjusted for the accommodation of children of different weights.

A further object of my invention is, to provide an exercising plaything for children which when used will give the operator or rider the effect of riding a polo pony or other small animal.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an exercising plaything constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the exerciser.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, It designates a base rail which may be formed of wood or metal and secured to the underside of the end portions thereof are transverse rails H that are adapted to rest on the ground or floor.

Secured to the intermediate portion of rail I 0, is the lower end of a post I Z and arranged between said post and base, are suitable braces The upper portion of post I2 is bifurcated for the reception of a tilting rail I 4 and formed through the intermediate portion of this rail 14, is a series of transverse apertures l5.

A readily removable pin or bolt l6 passes through the upper portion of post [2 and. through one of the apertures l5, thus forming an axis or fulcrum for the tilting rail I4. 7

Secured to the rear end of rail I4, is the upper end of a retractile spring I! and seated in the rear end of base rail If is a series of eyes I8, to any one of which the lower end ofthe spring H may be connected.

By providing the adjustable connection between the lower end of spring I? and the rear portion of rail l0, and the adjustable fulcrum or point of pivotal connection between rail I 4 and horse or polo pony and passing through the neck representing portion of this panel is a short rod 29, the projecting ends of which are adapted to be grasped by the user of the plaything.

Suitably secured on top of rail M, just in front of the apertures I5, is a saddle representing seat 2| and secured to the forward end of rail I l and projecting forwardly and downwardly therefrom are members 22 that represent the front legs of a pony.

Secured to rail It adjacent to the frontend of the seat or saddle 2| are downwardly and forwardly projecting arms 23 and seated in the lower ends thereof is a transversely disposed rod 24, the projecting ends of which serve as rests for the feet of the occupant of the seat or saddle.

Formed in the upper portion of the head and neck representing panel I9, is a recess 25 and passing therethrough and bearing in the walls to the sides of said recess, is a shaft 26. This shaft is mounted so as to rotate freely in its bearings and carried by the ends of the shaft that project slightly beyond the sides of the panel I9, are upstanding members 2'5 of leather, fabric or analogous material and which are shaped to represent the ears of a pony.

Secured to shaft [6, within recess 25, is a counterbalancing weight 28 which swings backward and forward as rail l4 and panel 89 change their positions, such movement rocking the shaft 26 and moving the ear representing members 21 backwardly and forwardly, thus simulating the backward and forward movement of a ponys ears.

The top of the recess 25 is closed by a thin sheet of material .29, preferably of metal.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the device for children of different weights, the apertures l5 and the eyes [8 may be distinctively designated, preferably by means of numerals placed on the base l adjacent to the eyes and on the beam 14 adjacent to the apertures therein.

In the .5? 9? my improved exercising plaything, a child is positioned on the seat or saddle 2| with the feet resting on the ends of rod 24 and the hands grasping the ends of rod 20. The child now moves the body slightly backward or forward and in so doing causes beam M to swing upon its axis and the upward movement of the rear end of said beam is yieldingly resisted by spring l1.

At the end of the upward swinging movement of beam M, the power stored in the spring during its expansive movement, will act to draw the rear end of beam l4 downward, which movement is accelerated by the rearward swinging movement of the riders body and as these movements are continued the beam M will swing vertically upon its axis, thereby providing a pleasing pastime as well as exercise of the body, arms and legs of the user of the device.

The axis or fulcrum between rail 14 and post I2 may be quickly and conveniently adjusted and the connection between the lower end of spring I! and the rear portion of base I0 may likewise be conveniently adjusted, thus enabling the plaything to be adjusted for use by children of different weights.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an exercising hobby horse that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very eflective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved exercising hobby horse may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an exercising hobby horse, a base, a post projecting upwardly from said base, a rail pivotally mounted on the upper portion of said post, a seat mounted on said rail in front of said post, a spring forming a connection between the rear end of said rail and said base, an animal head and neck representing panel mounted upon and projecting upwardly from the forward portion of said rail and counterbalanced ear representing 1 members mounted for rocking movement on the upper portion of said head and neck representing panel.

2. In an exercising hobby horse, a base, a post projecting upwardly from said base, a rail pivoted on the upper portion of said post, a seat mounted on said rail in front of said post, a retractlle spring forming a connection between the rear end of said rail and base, an animal head and neck representing panel mounted on the forward portion of said rail there being a recess formed in the upper portion of said panel, a shaft journaled in said panel and passing through said recess, ear representing members carried by the ends of said shaft and a counterbalancing weight carried by said shaft within said recess.

WILLIAM D. OSBORN. 

